Toxin by Robin Cook

in a protective hug. As she did so, she locked eyes with Kim.
    â€œShe’s feeling a little punk,” Kim admitted defensively.
    Tracy pushed Becky out to arm’s length so she could again look at her face. Becky wiped her eyes. “You’re very pale,” Tracy said. “What’s the matter?”
    â€œIt’s just a minor GI upset,” Kim interjected.“Probably just a touch of food poisoning. At least that was the opinion of a pediatric resident I spoke with.”
    â€œIf it’s so minor, why is she so pale?” Tracy questioned. Tracy put her hand to Becky’s forehead.
    â€œShe doesn’t have a fever,” Kim said. “Just some cramps and diarrhea.”
    â€œHave you given her anything?” Tracy asked.
    â€œSure,” Kim said. “She’s had Pepto-Bismol, and when that didn’t seem to do the trick, I gave her some Imodium.”
    â€œDid it help?” Tracy asked.
    â€œSome,” Kim said.
    â€œI have to go to the bathroom,” Becky said.
    â€œOkay, dear,” Tracy said. “You go on upstairs. I’ll be up in a minute.”
    Becky hoisted the edge of her blanket and hurried up the stairs.
    Tracy turned to Kim. Her face was flushed. “My God, Kim! You’ve only had her for less than forty-eight hours and she’s sick. What did you do with her?”
    â€œNothing out of the ordinary,” Kim said.
    â€œI should have known better than to leave town,” Tracy snapped.
    â€œOh, come off it,” Kim said, becoming angry himself. “Becky could have gotten sick whether you left town or not. In fact if she’s got a virus, she could easily have contracted it before the weekend when you were here.”
    â€œI thought you said it was food poisoning,” Tracy said.
    â€œThat was just a statistical guess by a pediatric resident,” Kim said.
    â€œDid Ginger make food this weekend?” Tracy asked.
    â€œAs a matter of fact she did,” Kim said. “She made a wonderful chicken dinner last night.”
    â€œChicken!” Tracy exclaimed. “I could have guessed. That must have been it.”
    â€œSo you’re already blaming Ginger,” Kim said mockingly. “You really dislike her, don’t you?”
    â€œNo, I don’t dislike her,” Tracy said. “Not anymore. At this point, I’m indifferent to her. But the fact of the matter is, she’s young and undoubtedly hasn’t had much experience in the kitchen. Those of us who have, know that you have to be very careful with chicken.”
    â€œYou think you know everything,” Kim said. “Well, for your information Becky hardly touched the chicken. Besides, she’d been feeling punk since Saturday morning. That means that if she’s got a touch of food poisoning, then she got it from the Onion Ring out on Prairie Highway, the place that your new boyfriend bragged to Becky that he owned.”
    Tracy reached around Kim and opened the door. “Goodnight, Kim!” she said sharply.
    â€œThere’s something else I’d like to say,” Kim spat. “I resent you implying to Becky that I’m some kind of ogre for encouraging her to compete in the Nationals.”
    â€œI never made a value judgment about your wishes for our daughter,” Tracy said. “When Becky informed me of her reluctance to face that kind of competition, I supported her. I also told her that you might try to change her mind. That was all I said.”
    Kim stared daggers at his former wife. The air of psychological superiority she assumed whenever they argued enraged him, especially in this instance when she felt she had to warn their daughter about what he might say to her.
    â€œGoodnight, Kim!” Tracy repeated. She was still holding the door open.
    Kim spun on his heels and left.

SIX
    Monday, January 19 th
    K im’s alarm was set to go off at five-fifteen in the morning, but it was rarely